The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-12

From the Whitehall ondonl Review.

said Wyse. us he pulled the ring from
his finger ana handed it to us for in
spect;on. "He lett il, to me by his
will, and keep it in memory of one
OF the best actors and one OF the best
men ever knew"
Meanwhile the ring was passing
from hand to hand, and the univers-
al verdict was that none OF us had
ever seen a finer stone.
"Turenne was rather a wealthy
man." said one OF our little circle,
"but didn't think he could have al
forded or would have cared to spend
so much money on an onament MS
that ring must have cost"
HE wanted it Tor some special pur-
pose which afterward fell through"
reioined Wyse. 81 know all about it,
for bought it for him myself, had
quite little adventure on the occas-
ion
"Tell us the story" we cried.
"Ned, said Wyse, taking a pull at
his Cigar and settling himself back in
his chair at is a good many years
ago no ] was playing high comey
clr oters at the old Princess, and
rs had been working very hard /
set of for the south of France as soon
as the season closed 1t happened
that Turenne (who had proved
himself n true friend to mel wanted a
good diamond for u purpose needn't
trouble you with; and before set
out on my travels told him that ii
met with particularly fine one at a
moderate price | would buy it for him,
and he. paing too busy at the time to
attend to the matter himself, gladly
consented | was staying ut Nice,
when there cane to the hotel one OF
those tall loquacious Americans who
are now SO plentiful all over Europe
There seemed to be nothing objection
al about the man, except that he was
vulgar and eternally talking about
the United States.
ION the evening after his arrival
few OF us happened to be sitting in
the blliard-room, and by some
chance or other the conversation
turned on the subject OF diamonds.
az don't know much about the
business myself said the American,
but Pm told by good Judges that
thar's about as good a stone as youH
see in days round.
$50 saying he drew ring from his
finger and handed it to me, who hap
pened to sit next him. 1t was, indeed
a magniicicnt brilliant, set in a ring
Of n peculiar pattern. When the lamp
was removed it seemed 20 gather into
itself the light out OF the semi-dark-
ness, and glittered like a bit OF broken
glass in the sunshine. What is it
WORTH asked one OF the men present.
"'I'hat can hardly tell you an
swered the American, 'seein a friend
at Buenos sent It to me direct, and |
had it cut myself But I'm tired OF
it. and seldom wear It,.
"'Would you sell it?' inquired,
ont OF curiosity.
81 mignt, answered the American,
especially rs this European trip is
cleaning me out faster than | expect
ed and don't want to 90 home to
Vermont skinned as neatly as cod.
Yes. yes. you may have that dia-
mond Tor ESQ OF your money, stran-
ger, and dirt cheap at that, / should
say
II looked ut the stone again, and
the longer looked at it the more
liked it. Eighty pounds was quite as
much as my friend wished to pay for
n stone, but what il could get one
for him worth fl00 for ESQ?
"Will you trader he asked.
al am not Judge OF di almonds my
self said |, returning the stone TO its
owner. Pm afraid | couldn't with
out taking Il lapidary's opinion as to
its value
"All right" said the American care
lessly, IF you care TO hev it we can
90 around to n jewelers. in the morn
ing. And if he puts lower val ue on
the stones than did you can hev it
at the price he names. il you like to
buy. | can't say fairer than that"
"The offer did, indeed. seem a very
fair one and ! went to bed that night
determined to secure the jewel for my
friend Il the expert reported favor
ably OF it.
Next morning the American and !
strolled down to the shop of the chief
ieweler OF the town; and when we en-
tered the place first OF all paid my
footing by purchasing some trihe, and
then, taking the ring from the hand OF
my new acquaintance, | placed it be-
fore the jeweler and asked him to give
me an opinion as to its value.
ga YER fine stone, sir" said the
Frenchman; 4 congratulate you on
the possession of so fine diamond
alt is not misG it belongs to my